Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
people who have a lot of references. Make sure you read all their feedback, too. Always have a
backup place to stay just in case something goes wrong/doesn't feel right.
Additionally, it's no secret that some hosts use couchsurfing as a way to hook up with trav-
elers of the opposite sex—especially solo travelers. It's normally men looking to hook up with
women but the opposite also happens. Don't be surprised if some make advances. After see-
ing enough profiles, you can start to spot which users are trying to hook up with their guests
because their profiles usually read more like a personal ad than a standard profile.
TIPS FOR COUCHSURFING SUCCESSFULLY
Complete your profile.
You're not going to get a lot of responses from a partially completed
profile. Fill it out honestly and make sure it is up to date. Many hosts will base their decision
on what your profile is like.
Host guests first.
If you've hosted people yourself, you will have a much easier time finding
people that will in turn host you. Couchsurfing is a community, so you should try giving back
first.
Don't send mass requests.
Hosts hate it when you simply send out an impersonal copy-
and-pasted mass email to a bunch of hosts. Carefully read each host's profile and send them
a personalized email asking if they would be willing to host you. In fact, look for hosts with
the same interests as you. It helps ensure compatibility and you're more likely to be accepted.
Also, give them the specific dates of when you're traveling—don't just say “I'm visiting your
city in April. Can you host me?”
It's more than a free room.
Couchsurfing is not a hotel service, but many new surfers make
the mistake of thinking it is. In fact, if you just want a free room, then I don't recommend us-
ing couchsurfing. It is about sharing your culture with someone else and creating a sense of
community. Hosts really go out of their way for their guests and they don't appreciate people
who just want a free couch. This is a big problem in large cities because hosts get inundated
with requests so make sure you're doing couchsurfing for the right reasons.
Don't contact hosts super early or last minute.
Remember that hosts have their own
lives that don't revolve around you. They have to make special arrangements when they have
guests, so you want to give them enough time to prepare. Don't wait until last minute to con-
tact them. Also, don't contact them months ahead of time either. I would usually try to send a
request about seven to ten days ahead of time.
Search active users
.
Couchsuring.org
has millions of members. Many people sign up and
forget about their profiles. This is why it is smart to filter people based on when they last
logged onto the website. If someone hasn't signed on for a few months, there is a good chance
they're not an active host.
